• Yan-Qiang Hou, Dong-Yu Liang, Xiao-Li Lou, Mei Zhang, Zhen-huan Zhang, and Lu-rong Zhang.
• Department of Central Laboratory, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201600, China. Electronic address: houyanqiang@aliyun.com.
• J Crit Care. 2016 Feb 1; 31 (1): 90-5.

AbstractCell-free circulating DNA (cf-DNA) can be detected by various of laboratory techniques. We described a branched DNA-based Alu assay for measuring cf-DNA in septic patients. Compared to healthy controls and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients, serum cf-DNA levels were significantly higher in septic patients (1426.54 ± 863.79 vs 692.02 ± 703.06 and 69.66 ± 24.66 ng/mL). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of cf-DNA for normal vs sepsis and SIRS vs sepsis were 0.955 (0.884-1.025), and 0.856 (0.749-0.929), respectively. There was a positive correlation between cf-DNA and interleukin 6 or procalcitonin or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. The cf-DNA concentration was higher in intensive care unit nonsurviving patients compared to surviving patients (2183.33 ± 615.26 vs 972.46 ± 648.36 ng/mL; P < .05). Branched DNA-based Alu assays are feasible and useful to quantify serum cf-DNA levels. Increased cf-DNA levels in septic patients might complement C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in a multiple marker format. Cell-free circulating DNA might be a new marker in discrimination of sepsis and SIRS. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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